Thankfully, the man climbed back into his carriage and pulled away. Evan smiled to himself. Minto could do nothing about him marrying Marina. He turned and continued toward his own townhouse, whistling the whole way.
Once he arrived, he found his mother sitting in the drawing room. He watched her for a few moments as she worked on a section of needlepoint. How could it be true she had been sneaking off with Marina’s father?
He cleared his throat and remained near the doorway. “Afternoon, Mother.”
“Evan, where have you been? I returned from shopping, and you were gone. The servants spoke of some carriage accident nearby.”
“Did you hear who was involved in the accident?” he asked.
“No, not yet. I’m sure we’ll hear soon.”
So, his mother wasn’t aware her presumed lover was in the accident.
“It was the Earl of Sidmouth.” Evan paused and watched the color drain from his mother’s face. “And Viscount Gordon.”
His mother raised her hand to cover her mouth. “Are you certain?”
“Quite. I was at the family’s townhouse when the magistrate informed them.”
Tears streamed down his mother’s cheeks, and he gave her a few moments of privacy while he poured himself a drink from the sideboard. It was seeming even more likely that the information Arthur shared with him was true.
She dried her eyes. “Why were you there?”
Evan groaned. “Didn’t I tell you before you left that I intend to marry Lady Marina? Surely you haven’t forgotten?”
She narrowed her eyes on her son. “Of course not. But it’s all over town that she is engaged to Lord Minto.”
“Well, I believe everyone in town is mistaken, since my ring sits on Marina’s finger.”
Evan smiled, satisfied with himself in dealing that bit of news. He studied his mother, awaiting her reaction.
The silence hung between them. His mother’s eyes glassed over, and she wiped her cheeks, staring at her lap.
“Are you overcome with joy over my betrothal, or are you bereft at the loss of your lover, Mother?”
He knew he shouldn’t have been so harsh with her and regretted his tone the moment the words left his lips.
She stilled and jerked her head toward him. “What? Why would you suggest such a thing?”
“Are you going to deny it?” he asked.
“I am a grown woman and your mother. I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
Evan leaned forward in his chair. “You didn’t think you should mention it to me once you learned I planned to wed the man’s daughter?”
“There is no chance he is your father.” She wrung her hands in her lap.
“I wasn’t worried about that. I am a spitting image of Father.”
He watched his mother, and a thought came to him. “Mother, did you tell your lover that I planned to propose to Marina?”
“Why does that matter?” she asked.
He ran his hand down his face. “Just answer the question, Mother.”
“Fine. I told him. I thought he would want to know.”
Evan stood and laughed incredulously. “Did the two of you plot this ridiculous attempt to force Marina to marry Minto? Was your affair so important that you thought to interfere between Marina and me by ensuring she married someone else? And how could you be a part of forcing any woman to marry a man like Minto?”
